Philippine Senator Calls For Stronger Crackdown On Illegal Online Gambling

A Philippine Senator is intensifying scrutiny of illegal online gambling as concerns grow over scale, accessibility, and cross-border enforcement challenges.

Good to Know

• Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged stronger enforcement against illegal online gambling platforms.
• Authorities estimate up to 97% of illegal operators are based offshore.
• Around 32 million Filipinos were estimated to have gambled online in a single month last year.

Sherwin Gatchalian, a Philippine senator known for advocacy against illegal gambling activity, pressed the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center during a recent hearing to expand efforts targeting unlicensed online platforms.

In remarks delivered after the session, Gatchalian described rapid reappearance of blocked websites and called for deeper structural solutions rather than repeated takedowns.

“Even if you block it now, it keeps coming back,” said Gatchalian, a longtime anti-gambling activist. “It’s never-ending. The root of the problem must be cut.”

Data presented during discussions indicated that more than 32 million Filipinos participated in online gambling during a single month last year. That figure represents roughly half of an adult population estimated at 79.6 million and reflects a sharp rise from about 8.2 million adults previously measured at the end of 2024.

“Online gambling has magnified the dangers from gambling and been linked to the erosion of our moral fibers,” he said. “It has caused an increase in mental health problems, financial problems, addictive behavior, vices and crime rates.”

Enforcement Faces Limits Beyond National Borders

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center reported blocking roughly 50,000 gambling websites so far. Officials emphasized that enforcement remains difficult because most providers operate outside Philippine jurisdiction, placing them beyond direct legal reach.

Renato Paraiso, Executive Director of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center, proposed expanding mutual legal assistance treaties to include cybercrime enforcement tied to illegal gambling operations. He also suggested creating a group of designated cyber diplomats to strengthen coordination with foreign governments and technology platforms.

Such proposals aim to address enforcement gaps created by digital infrastructure that allows offshore companies to reach domestic users without maintaining a physical presence in the country.

Gatchalian has supported tighter safeguards instead of a complete prohibition, warning that an outright ban could drive more users toward underground markets.

He sponsored the 2025 Online Gambling Regulatory Act, a measure designed to impose stricter oversight while keeping activity within a monitored framework. Policy ideas discussed include daily transaction caps, mandatory time limits, and biometric verification systems to confirm player identity.

All can help “curb the alarming rise of gambling addiction, especially among the youth”, he said.

The senator also backed legislation aimed at separating e-wallet services from iGaming transactions, describing that reform as a “monumental step toward the responsible use of digital services”.

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